Biography

John Sartin is an award winning jewelry artist that merges new and old fabrication techniques to create truly original, one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art. The driving force behind his work, is the challenge to conceptualize a piece and then craft it from raw materials. His current body of work is influenced by the natural processes of erosion and volcanic activity. Living most of his life in the South Western and Western United States as well as a year in Japan Sartin returned to his place of birth, Albuquerque, NM, in 2002 to begin a life as a jewelry artist. Since then he has received numerous awards for his work including: Best Jeweler in the precious metal category (New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair 2004), Best of Show in Fine Crafts (Evergreen Fine Arts Festival 2005,. Best In Category (Ruidoso Art Festival 2006), First Place in Jewelry (Sedona Arts Festival 2007) and Excellence in Category in the Crested Butte Arts Festival for three consecutive years 2006, 2007, 2008. He has also been in several group exhibitions in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona and has been published in Art Jewelry Magazine in which his work was selected as the cover artist of the may 2008 issue.

Artist Statement

The influence behind my work is two fold. First by the natural processes of erosion and volcanic activity. Both of these forces have negative connotations but these are the same forces that have shaped the magnificent landscape of Mother Earth. Always changing and revealing new layers of equal or more magnificent beauty. The second influence is that of personal growth. Like the landscape, life's journey has it's many layers and with the passage of time and external influences layers of life are shed revealing something new and more beautiful. Sometimes these layers are imperceptible within the daily events of this world but they are there, all it takes is a desire to find and accept them for what they are.

I utilize old and new techniques and technologies to create visually stunning pieces that possess an emergent quality. The forms, either geometric or asymmetrical, composed of more than one layer. As the pieces are inspected surface texture and line elements are revealed drawing the viewer deeper into the piece. These features along with patinaed or enameled finishes combine to create a complete composition one that reveals the influence behind the art.